Dr Manmohan Singh would not eat at the UN Plaza Hotel. "I am spending the taxpayer's money. If I misuse it, God will never forgive me," he said.

As the world chants the 'herbal mantra', India, the land where Ayurveda originated, is nowhere to be seen in the global market, with its meagre share of 1-2 per cent.

'They are employing graduates who have just passed out, paying them Rs 5,000 and making them teach. I said \n\nall this must stop,' says Dr U R Rao, whose report on technical education has created huge controversy.

Expectations that a pleasing Union Budget for 2003-04 will be forthcoming tomorrow prompted an upbeat sentiment in the market today, lifting indices and spurring on buying activity in bank, tech and heavyweight stocks. \n\n\n\n